On December 23, 2025, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a request for a welfare check at a residence in Hampton Township in Dakota County, MN. The deputy was advised that the reporting party stated that his sister-in-law was in danger and her son had taken her car keys. The deputy was familiar with the address and knew that V. L. H. (“Victim”) lived there with her son, Defendant ERIK ALLAN HOEL [DOB REDACTED]. Deputies arrived and made contact with Victim [NAME REDACTED]. Deputies took Defendant to a separate room.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] had been crying and was visibly shaking. In a statement, Victim [NAME REDACTED] had been upset since he had gotten up that morning. They were arguing because he wanted his girlfriend to move in. Victim [NAME REDACTED] was in the kitchen, Defendant came at her and strangled her with both hands on her neck. Victim said that this happened twice and she could not breath while he strangled her. Deputies observed reddish-purple marks on Victim’s neck. During the assaults, Victim did not know how to call for help because Defendant had taken her phone.
At some point, Victim’s sister called her phone and Defendant gave the phone to Victim. She asked her sister for help, who in turn talked to her husband who called 911. Victim was afraid that Defendant will further harm or kill her and she is in danger living with him. Victim said that Defendant his behavior has worsened recently and that he uses drugs. In a Mirandized statement, Defendant admitted that he and Victim were arguing that morning and that he had Victim’s phone in his bedroom. Defendant denied touching or grabbing Victim’s neck.
Defendant is in custody. Defendant has more than two prior convictions for Qualified Domestic Violence-Related Offenses within the last ten years: > DANCO Violation, entered on January 19, 2022, in Dakota County #19HA-CR-21-1310. > OFP Violation, entered on July 8, 2020, in Dakota County #19HA-CR-20-408. > DANCO Violation, entered on January 24, 2020, in Rice County #••-CR-••-••••. 2 19HA-CR-25-2161 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 12/24/2025 > DANCO Violation, entered on July 8, 2019, in Dakota County #19HA-CR-19-939. > DANCO Violation, entered on February 28, 2019, in Dakota County #19HA-CR-18-3235. > DANCO Violation, entered on January 28, 2019, in Scott County #••-CR-••-••••.
